Ontario: Provincial funding for hepatitis C drugs a game changer, health professionals say

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Changes spurred by development of minimally invasive drugs with extremely high cure rates. Health professionals are voicing excitement about new changes regarding the availability of hepatitis C treatment under Ontario’s Drug Benefit program.

The Ontario government says it will cover the cost of medication for all hepatitis C patients, regardless of the severity of the disease, a move that’s being touted as a game-changing decision by health professionals in the field.

Prior to the changes made to the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) program on Feb. 28, only patients in the late stages of liver disease could be approved for the expensive treatments. Vulnerable patients like pregnant mothers could also be covered.

“Due to significant costs ($45,000 to $100,000 per patient), hepatitis C drugs were previously restricted,” stated Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care spokesperson David Jensen in an email.

Jensen said the changes were spurred by the newfound availability of minimally invasive drugs with very high cure rates.

“The new medicines for hepatitis C have the potential to be curative, avoiding the complications associated with chronic hepatitis C infection,” said Jensen.

There are currently eight drugs approved to treat hepatitis C under the province’s drug benefits program.